Vibrating attachment for hopper cars and the like



April 19, 1955 RlEDH ETAL 2,706,566

VIBRATING ATTACHMENT FOR HOPPER CARS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 27, 1951 FIG. I.

INVENTOR. ER/c FRIED H BY HARRY K SEL A TTaQA/E).

United States Patent VIBRATING ATTACHMENT FOR HOPPER CARS AND THE LIKE Eric Friedh, Jamaica, N. Y., and Harry Kuensel, Riverton, N. 1., assignors to Vibro-Plus Corp., Woodside, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 27, 1951, Serial No. 263,552

2 Claims. (Cl. 214-833) This invention relates to vibrating devices for freight or hopper cars, and particularly for application to the types of cars used for hauling coal or other loose or pulverized material and from which the contents are unloaded by means of a chute.

In emptying the loose contents from cars of the type just mentioned, it is conventional practice to vibrate or shake the car body to thereby loosen the contents and cause the same to move toward the chute or outlet of the car and thus be continuously delivered. In order to vibrate or agitate the car, a suitable vibrator is usually attached to the body of the car and by its operation will impart a vibratory movement to the body of the car and thus shake down the contents thereof. been found diflicult to securely, but temporarily, attach such a vibratory device to the car body since the vibratory action of the same usually causes the fastening means to quickly loosen. As a result, the vibrating device requires constant watching while in operation lest it loosen and become completely dislodged from the car.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved means for fastening a vibratmg device to a car, and one which will securely hold the device in position to enable it to impart its vibratory action to the body of the car, without becoming loose. It is another object of the invention to provide a clamp held in operative position on the car by hydraulic means, with the clamp provided with an improved means for attaching the vibrating device to it.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a clamp held in position on the flange of a car body by hydraulic means and having a seat on which the vibrating device will be securely, yet removably attached.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved vibrating device and clamping means for attaching the same to the flange of a car; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the same, with certain parts broken away and other parts being shown in section in order to disclose construction;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the device;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device, showing the same as it appears when attached to the flange of a hopper car, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the clamping head which is roughly C-shaped and is thus provided with a notch or recess 2, into which the flange 3 of a hopper or other freight car body 4 is received substantially as shown in Fig. 4. The clamping head 1 is thus provided with a fixed upper jaw 5 provided with a face plate 6. A lower fixed jaw 7 is formed on the clamping head 1 and said lower jaw is provided with an aperture 8 (Fig. 2) which threadably receives the threaded portion 9 of a hydraulic cylinder 10. A set screw 34 holds the cylinder 10 in any desired adjusted position in the jaw 7.

A ram or piston 11 is operative in the cylinder 10 and is provided at its exposed end with a head 12. The ram is movable by hydraulic pressure in the cylinder 10 to move its head 12 toward the upper jaw 5 to thereby clamp the car flange 3 between said head 12 and the face plate 6 of the upper jaw in the manner clearly-shown in Fig. 4. Flexible inlet and outlet tubes 13 and 14 couple the cylinder 10 to a pump 15, manually operated by the handle 16, to supply the fluid under required pressure to It has the cylinder 10 to thereby either cause elevating or lowercontrols the flow of the fluid to the cylinder in the conventional manner.

The vibrator is generally indicated at 35 and the same, in the form shown, consists of a housing 18 containing an electric motor 19 to which electric current is carried by the cable 36, and which rotates a shaft 20 carrying eccentric weights 21 and 22 that set up vibration to shake the car body and cause the descent of the loose contents of the same. A bail or handle 23 is progided on the vibrator housing 18 to permit of its han- Provided at the back of the clamping head 1 is a mounting plate 24 formed at its lower end with an upturned flange 25 which takes over a tapered edge portion 27 of a mounting shoe 26 secured to the vibrator casing 18. The opposite tapered edge portion 28 of the shoe 26 is engaged by an eccentric or offset portion 29 (Figs. 3 and 5) of a clamping rod 30 that is manually rotative in a pair of lugs 31 extending from the plate 24. The clamping rod 30 is provided with an angularly-bent end 32 constituting a handle by which the rod may be manually rotated to cause its offset portion 29 to bear down upon the tapered portion 28 of the shoe 26 to thus cooperate with the flange 25 in securely holding the vibrator firmly and immovably against the plate 24 attached to the clamping head 1.

From the foregoing, the operation of the device will be readily understood. By the application of hydraulic pressure in the cylinder 10 against the ram 11, the head 12 thereof will clamp the flange 3 of the car between it and the upper jaw face plate 6. As long as the hydraulic pressure is maintained in the cylinder 10, the clamp will remain securely attached to the flange, despite the vibratory action of the vibrator 35. The vibrator 35 is easily attached to the clamping head 1 by inserting the end 28 of the shoe 26 under the clamping rod 30 and then fitting the opposite end of the shoe 26 under the flange 25 after which the rod 30 is rotated to cause the eccentric portion 29 thereof to clampingly hold the vibrator in position. By release of the hydraulic pressure in the cylinder 10, ram 11 will be lowered and the clamp thus engaged from the flange 3 so that the device may then be easily detached from the car body.

Having described one embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

l. A vibrating device for car bodies comprising a substantially C-shaped head defining spaced jaws between which the flange of a car body is adapted to be fitted, a hydraulic cylinder attached to one of said jaws, said cylinder being provided with a hydraulically-operated ram movable to or from one of the jaws to thereby engage the flange of the car body between it and the said jaw, a seat on the head, a vibrator having a shoe resting against said seat, said seat having a flange overlying a portion of the shoe, said shoe having an inclined surface, and a cam rod rotatively carried by the head and being manually rotative to clampingly engage the inclined surface of the shoe to thereby hold the shoe against its seat with a portion of said shoe disposed under the flange on said seat.

2. A vibrating device comprising a substantially C- shaped head for defining spaced jaws adapted to grip the article to be vibrated between them, an hydraulic cylinder being provided with an hydraulically-operated ram movable to or from one of the jaws to thereby grip the article to be vibrated between it and said jaw, a seat on the head, a vibrator having a shoe resting against said seat, said seat having a flange overlying a portion of the shoe, said shoe having an inclined surface, and a cam rod rotatively carried by the head and being manually rotative to clampingly engage the inclined surface of the shoe to thereby hold the shoe against its seat with a portion of said shoe disposed under the flange on said seat.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Garvey July 26, 1910 Meyer et a1. Jan. 9, 1917 Jackson Sept. 2, 1930 Scott Nov. 10, 1936 Smith et a1 Feb. 15, 1938 4 Boldman Jan. 21, 1941 Allen Mar. 18, 1941 Di Santo Oct. 28, 1941 Sargeson May 14, 1946 Bacheldor May 16, 1950 Hight Sept. 19, 1950 Bauerle et a1. Dec. 16, 1952 

